Device inserted in inviolable lid for bottles

ABSTRACT

A device inserted in an inviolable lid for bottles, comprising a cylindrical skirt and upper closure, as well as an outer nonslippery surface, and an inner thread having interrupted sections. An inner sealing layer is disposed below the upper closure. Its lower end has a seal band with a slight increase in outer wall thickness and a circular cutting line with rupturable portions. The seal band has a plurality of hinged blades just above its lower edge that are projected radially inward. The blades are equidistantly spaced, each configured so that it can hinge upwardly. The blades work as locking components between the lid and the bottle. Each blade has an antifriction rim or bead on its lower face (against the bottle neck). The rim extends centrally from the base of the blade to its distal end.

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention provides specially developed technical andfunctional improvements to a lid with an attached seal that can be usedwith different types of bottles. These bottles are mainly disposable,consisting of glass or plastic, and may be for food products, medicinesor similar products.

[0002] Currently there are various types of lids having attached sealsclose to the lower edge of the skirt. This seal is usually a hoop orring. It is shown as an extension of the cylindrical skirt of the lidbody, but it is attached only through rupturable “bridges” or small“bonds.” The inner side of the seal has several hinged trapezoidalblades, each of them having its larger side interconnected to the sealin a hinged way. The smaller side is radially directed to the inside andinclined upwards. These blades are located close to the seal's loweredge and are equidistantly distributed, working as a main lockingcomponent between the lid and the bottle neck. When screwing the lid tothe neck, the blades hinge upward to a near vertical position. Thisposition may only occur when they are passing through a circular lockingcollar or band present on the bottle neck. After passing through thecircular collar, the blades go back to a more horizontal position andeach blade remains inclined to the inside, enough to touch the neck wallunder the circular band, irreversibly locking the lid and the bottle.When unscrewing the lid, the free ends of the blades rest under the bandand the separation of the band and the skirt will unavoidably happen.The seal will break at the bonds allowing the lid to be fully unscrewedand the bottle opened.

[0003] The lids manufactured according to the current technique closethe bottle correctly, making it inviolable. However, “placementfriction” occurs during bottling or more particularly at the bottleclosing phase. The placement of the conventional lid by high speedmachines results in “considerable friction” that, though not sufficientto damage the bottling process, causes problems which require the designof mechanical parts taking the friction into account.

[0004] Thus, when applying a conventional lid, it can be screw-toppeduntil the end, so that its blades become locked under the band. Thelower surface of each blade slides over the matching parts of thebottle, thus, causing a substantially large friction coefficient in eachblade.

SUMMARY

[0005] In a constructive arrangement specially developed for drasticallyreducing the friction coefficient, each blade has an antifriction bandor rim on its lower face (the one turned against the neck wall) from itshinged base to the free edge. The lid coupling is carried out withreduced friction, as the contact area between the blade and the neck orthe band edge of the neck is only limited to the rim.

[0006] The rim has been developed in order to reduce friction betweenthe lid and the bottle band, leading to another improvement in themodel. With the introduction of the rim the blade itself became betterstructured. The rim works as a reinforcing web and, even if the bladevane is made with a reduced thickness, its locking effect is maintainedwith an optimum efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings which discloses one embodimentof the present invention. It should be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention.

[0008] In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denotesimilar elements throughout the several views:

[0009]FIG. 1 represents a side view of the lid showing its outerdetails;

[0010]FIG. 2 shows another side view, though in half section, the innerdetails being highlighted;

[0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective of the lid in an upper angle; and

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective of the lid in a lower angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 show aone-piece body injected with plastic material, having a cylindricalshape. The body has a vertical, cylindrical skirt 1, with a nonslipperyexternal surface 2. The inside of the body has an adequate thread 3interrupted by sections 4. Thread 3 and sections 4 are suited forpressure relief when the bottle to be closed with the present lid iscontains gasified liquid.

[0014] The upper end of cylindrical skirt 1, after a concordant rounding5 is completely closed by a circular wall 6 and an inner sealing layer7. The lower end of skirt 1 has a similarly circular extension, and aseal band 8. Seal band 8 has a slightly increased thickness 9 of thewall to the outside. Seal band 8 also has a circular cutting line 10just above thickening 9, interrupted by rupturable portions 11.

[0015] Seal band 8 has a plurality of hinged blades 12 just above itslower edge, that are projected radially inward. Blades 12 areequidistantly spaced. Each blade 12 has a base 13 that may hingeupwardly. Blades 12 work as locking components between the lid and thebottle. When screwing the lid to the neck, blades 12 hinge upwardly to anear vertical position. This may only happen when blades 12 are passingthrough a circular locking band or collar present on the bottle neck.After passing through a circular collar, blades 12 tend to go back to ahorizontal position and, resting on the neck wall. The free ends ofblades 12 remain engaged under said collar, locking the lid and thebottle. This locking is carried out in an irreversible way. Whenunscrewing the lid, the separation between seal band 8 and lid 1 willoccur, due to the fact that these parts are interconnected to each otherthrough rupturable points 11 which are ruptured at the moment ofunscrewing the lid. Seal band 8 is retained under the neck band, whilecylindrical skirt 1 or lid is removed, opening the bottle.

[0016] Each blade 12 has at least one antifriction bead or rim 14 on itslower face (the one turned against the bottle neck). Each rim 14 iscentrally situated on each blade 12 extending from the blade base untilits distal end.

[0017] Antifriction rim 14 may have a cross section having any geometry,preferably rectangular or semi-circular. Blade 12, depending on itswidth, may have two or more rims 14.

[0018] Rim 14 constitutes an important detail in each blade 12. Duringthe process of applying the lid through high speed machines, the lidcoupling is carried out with reduced friction, as the contact areabetween blade 12 and the neck or collar edge of the neck is limited tobead 14.

[0019] Further, it causes blade 12 to be better structured. Rim 14 worksas a reinforcing web and, thus, even if blade 12 is made with a reducedthickness, its locking effect will be maintained with optimumefficiency.

[0020] Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present inventionhave been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changesand modifications may be made thereunto without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device inserted in an inviolable lid for bottles comprising: a one-piece body having a cylindrical shape and injected with plastic material; a vertical cylindrical skirt having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end; a nonslippery surface on said outer surface of said vertical cylindrical skirt; a thread on said inner surface of said vertical cylindrical skirt, wherein said thread is interrupted by sections for pressure relief when the bottle contains gasified liquids; a circular wall having an interior and an exterior, wherein said circular wall completely closes said upper end of said cylindrical skirt after concordant rounding; an inner sealing layer coupled on said interior of said circular wall; a seal band on said lower end of said skirt having an upper and lower edge, an increased thickness and a circular cutting line above said increased thickness; rupturable portions situated above said increased thickness and interrupting said cutting line; a plurality of hinged blades disposed above said lower edge of said seal band and having an upper face, a lower face, a base and a distal end, wherein said blades project radially inward, are equidistantly spaced and have a base that may hinge upwardly; and an antifriction rim or bead extending from said base to said distal end of said lower face of each hinged blade; wherein said plurality of hinged blades act as locking components between the lid and the bottle.
 2. The device inserted in an inviolable lid for bottles according to claim 1, wherein one of said blades may have two or more rims depending on its width. 